Small Things

Several small things in the works or done:


First up, the spindle bag. It looks a lot like a horse's feedbag: maybe I should just save myself some time and shop at the feed store? The other side:


Inside, there are 2 pockets for spindles, and 3 pockets for my niddy-pinny. Here it is empty:


And full:


There is room for the two silk spindles (both Goldings), and the bombyx silk I've been spinning. It has a drawstring top, and a handle to sling it over a shoulder. Quite the success, for the first time out, although the second (and third? fourth?) bags will have some alterations. Maybe less of a feedbag look too. :)

I've got enough of the silk spun now to start knitting:


Start being the operative word:


This will take months to knit: it's a scarf or shawl, depending on how long the silk and I hold out. But it's to be travel knitting, and the traveling starts this weekend with a trip to Michigan, so it was time to cast on.

My last trip brought a few new small things too:


Silk pins,a gift from rug weaver and basket maker Michael Rohde, made with his hand-dyed yarns. He came to the lecture with a tiny copper and brass lap-loom, based on Archie Brennan's pipe looms for tapestry. I've been using a variation on Archie's loom plans for knotted pile, and tried a small version for travel using Michael's alterations:



This is not as small as Michael's: mine is 12" x 18". I may try for smaller yet, but some of the constraints of knotted pile make for a slightly larger version than for tapestry: I need room for the shedding device, and enough room above and below the shedding device for the warps to move. This will fit easily in my usual travel suitcase, though, and it works(!).

And last, the smallest red shoes I have ever made:



I'm going to be someones Grandma soon! :)